In a surprising turn of events, the United Arab Emirates and Russia have submitted requests for consular access to Pavel Durov, the CEO of popular messaging app Telegram. Durov was arrested on Sunday in Paris over his alleged refusal to cooperate in the investigation of crimes related to the app.

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that it was “closely following” Durov’s case and had “submitted a request to the French government to provide him with all consular services urgently.” Similarly, Russia’s embassy in Paris referred a note to the French foreign ministry demanding consular access to Durov.

Durov, who was born in Russia, holds citizenship in multiple countries, including France, Russia, the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and the United Arab Emirates. His arrest has sparked widespread concern, with many questioning the motives behind it.

Paris Public Prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that Durov was arrested in connection with a judicial investigation of 12 criminal counts, including one related to cybercrime. However, Telegram has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the platform “abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act” and that its moderation is “within industry standards and constantly improving.”

The arrest of Durov has also drawn criticism from high-profile figures, including Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, and Edward Snowden, a former US National Security Agency contractor. Both Musk and Snowden condemned the arrest on Sunday, with Musk calling it “a dangerous precedent” and Snowden stating that it was “a threat to global freedom of expression.”

Under French law, Durov can be held for 96 hours until Wednesday evening. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the future of digital communication and the responsibilities of platform owners.

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